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Just curious as to where most of you been and what parks you feel deliver the best coasters. Being new to the whole coaster experience at the ripe old age of 37, I'm interested in traveling to a few more parks not in the area and would like to know what parks you've been to. This is probably a loaded question, I know. In looking, I've decided on a couple that I'd like to hit someday. Right now I think the short list is (in no particular order):

Hershey Park (couple hours drive from me)
Carowinds (short flight hop south or days drive)
Kings Dominion (season passes at the ready for next year)

The problem is that all the best coasters are spread throughout several parks. Yes, Carowinds has Fury, but not much else. Cedar Point has a few good ones and a few mediocre ones. Hersheypark has a pretty good all around collection in my opinion.

(10/29/15 02:22pm)Zachary Wrote: Hershey is, by far, the most well-rounded park I've ever been to. Even their small "filler" coasters are great examples of their respective genres.

Holiday World is the woodie capital with two great woodies leading up to the crown jewl of their collection: The Voyage.

Like Thomas said, there's no one great answer unfortunately. Every park has its pros and cons.

We are definitely going to attempt to get up there this coming season for a day. It is maybe 2 hours from the door, much like KD. It looks like a fun place. And who doesn't like CANDY?? Local friends have mixed reviews about it, but I definitely like their lineup.

I know what I am about to say will shock and even make some mad. But my opinion is if your close enough to BGW and Kings Dominion then you are close enough to try Six Flags America in the DC area. Batwing and Superman are well worth the trip and there others are not bad even if nothing special. My advice is go early summer on a weekday if possible at least this year it was a large discount and not crowed.

(10/29/15 02:33pm)Zachary Wrote: I don't know enough about Hershey to tell you whether or not it's a miserable place in the summer, but when I hit Hershey in the fall a couple years ago, it was a delightful park.

Heat-wise it can be miserable in the summer but the good thing about that is that the majority of visitors are in the water park making the lines for the coasters and other rides very short. The only rides that had significant lines were Great Bear, Fahrenheit and Stormrunner and those were only 20 minutes long. Lightning Racer was usually a 2 to 3 train wait for either side.

I agree with Nicole. One park that has a lot of different types of coasters might not be the same park with the best coasters overall. Carowinds has quite a few types, but a lot of them aren't that great.

Well obviously we would be interested in the whole park, but also in the main attractions. Six Flags America, if it could be transplanted in a nicer place, would be a great park. I just don't like the location to be honest. But it is within a day trip option.

If we are looking at these holistically, here are my opinions in no particular order:

Bush Gardens Tampa: I love this park. The coasters and animal exhibits are great. I always do an animal experience, because they are fantastic. I really believe it is a better animal park than Animal Kingdom and the best coaster park I've been to in Florida. The shopping is really good, as well. Unexpectedly, I am a huge fan of Pantopia. The skyride is fantastic. It is lacking in flats and dark rides.

Dollywood: I have a very unpopular view of this park. I really disliked it. The rides were meh. It felt as if it was all molding and falling apart. The food is over-hyped. And the train seem just dangerous. It lacked any charm for me.

Dorney Park: Conversely, Dorney seemed very charming and well-maintained. They have fantastic flats and a few good coasters. I really enjoyed the park a lot. I have a passionate love of spider and monster rides, and their monster was the best I have been on, since BGW got rid of their spider.

Sea World Orlando: I like SWO for the same reasons I love BGT, but not quite as much. I do enjoy eating at Sharks. I also adore the penguins. And this is the only park where I will voluntarily see a show.

Kennywood: This park was great in a very weird way. I personally didn't love any of the coasters, because they were all about air-time, which isn't my bag. The flats were...classic, I guess? I loved their fun house and they had good food. Oh, and the Black Widow was fantastic. Also, they have the most charming train ever.

LEGOLAND Florida. I love, love, love this park, but that is because of my geekiness. The rides are all for children. In fact, the entire park is targeted at kids. But the Cypress Gardens sections is beautiful; the food is good; and I love playing at the LEGO areas. They do have a cute woodie and a really cool animal safari ride. the Dragon is a fun combination of a dark ride (with LEGO sculptures) and a kiddie coaster. Naturally, Mini-land is brilliant, if you like LEGO architecture.

Idlewild. I kinda didn't enjoy Idlewild very much. I can't really point to anything wrong with it, but I am not a small child, so I wasn't really in their target audience.

Carowinds. Caro has Fury. That is really all. They got rid of Thunder Road, for which they should be punished, as it was a great woodie. I found the staff to be rude; the food to be awful; the park to be unpleasant; and most of the rides to be adequate to bad. I did like Intimidator, but not as much as i305. Regardless, go for Fury.

Kings Island. I really liked the Beast. I always enjoy Skyline Chili. Nothing else really struck me one way or another. I do recall that they have a completely incomprehensible mine train. It is a good place to get credits, I suppose.

Cedar Point. CP has some good coasters and some awful coasters and some coasters that will do actual physical harm to your actual body. They have some very cool flats. Their racing carousel and Tiki Twirl really stood out for me. I personally love Millenium Force and Mavrick. Gatekeep is good. Mean Streak literally dislocated my husband's rib, before they put the brake on the drop (yes, I said that correctly). I will never forgive Cedar Point for Mantis, which should have been burned to the ground, instead of being converted into a mediocre floorless. Everyone should go to CP...and bring lots and lots of painkillers.

USO/IoA: I love Uni, but not for its coasters. The Harry Potter areas are fantastic. And I adore Seuss Landing. I don't get the Mummy love. Hulk was fine. They have some great dark rides.

Disney. Go for the dark rides. Go because you love Disney. Don't go for the thrill rides. Eating there can be a challenge (excluding Epcot), unless you really love chicken fingers and pizza.

Wonderland Park. I went to this crazy park when I was in Amarillo, TX on business. Everyone must go there. It is old school and has a crazy collection of old flats and coasters. It was just full of character.

I'm sorry. That was all completely stream of consciousness. I hope it made some kind of sense.

"Wit has some truth in it; wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words." -- Dorothy Parker